Electric egg cooker



J. PE| ENBERG v mfnlc EGG co-om l i original Filed ug- 27; 1941 Y 2 she-ets sheet 1 @steamed Apr.. ai.:

,ist

MES PATENT OFFICE.

408,433, August 27,

September 19, 1941 19 March 28, 1944, Serial N0. 528,415.

41. This application In Canada 4 Claims. (Cl. Zhi-44) This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in an electric eggcooker. This appli.- cation is a substitute for my abandoned application filed on August 27, 1941, Serial Number 408,-

The invention proposes an electricegg cooker which is characterized by several vertical compartments into which eggs may be placed, and an arrangement whereby these eggs may be lowered into boiling water to 'boil them.

Still further a mechanism is proposed which includes a time device arranged to project the boiled eggs out of the water after a predetermined time.

A'construction is contemplated wherein a perf forated support member is located in each compartment upon which the eggs may be rested. A construction is also proposed whereby one or more of these support members may be lowered individually, or simultaneously by the operation of a single control handle, tc immerse the eggs. l

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof., reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and `vto the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more partiicularly set forth.

Inthe accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective 4view of an electric'egg cooker constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the I line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but illustrated with the Support member in its lowered DOSition.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 4on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. Gis a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 11-ot Fig. 2. v

Fig. 8 is a-perspective view of one of the parts used in the device.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3. Y

The electric egg cooker, in accordance with this invention, includes a double wall container I0 having an open ton-and adapted to hold water to a level at least midway of the top and bottom thereof, as schematically indicated in Fig. 2, by

the dot and dash line II. This line indicates the topv level of the water. A .plurality of vertical partitions I2 divide the top portion of the container I 0 into a plurality of separate `compartments i3.' The partitions I2 Ido not extend all the -way down to the bottom ofthe container. They terminate at the bottom edges I2, see Fig. 2.

These points' of termination are below the water level II. A perforated support member I4 is mounted within each of the-compartments I3 and is normally located above thel water level Il. Two eggs superimposed on each other may be rested upon each support member I4 while it is in its raised position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Means is provided for guiding each support mem- -ber I4 to move in a vertical path. This means includes a plurality of vertical rods I5 mounted upon the bottom of the container I0 andextended upwards through openings in the corners of the support members I4.

Means is provided for mechanically lowering said support member I4 to immerse the eggs into the water of the container. This means includes a shaft I6 mounted through the double wall of the container I0 and supporting a sprocket I1 between the walls thereof which is engaged by a chain I8. Q

The4 chain extends over another sprocket I9 on a shaft 20 rotatively supported `across one end of the double wall-container I0. 'I'he shaft 2D is provided with another sprocket 2| engaged -by another chain 22 which extends over a sprocket 23 located between the double Walls of one of the other sides of the container and supported on another shaft 24. The shaft 24 extends to the interior of the double walled container I0. A gear 25.is mounted on the inner end of this shaft. This gear is located in one of the compartments I3. The other compartments I3 are provided with similar gears 25 which are on shafts 246 rotatively supported and provided with sprockets 21 meshing with chains I8 and 22. A handle 28 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft I6. The arrangement is such that when the handle 28 is rotated the gears 25 will be turned.

Each support member I4 has an opening 29 adjacent-one of said gears 25. A square rod 30 is mounted across each opening A29. A vertical rack 3| for each rod 30 has its bottom end 3Iy turned around the square rod 30 and extends upwards. Each rack 3l will frictionally maintain a stationary position. A cam 33 is mounted upon vthe bottom end of each rack 3l and each cam 33 is cooperative with a complementary 'cam 34 mounted on the bottom of the container I0. The l arrangement is such that normally each rack 3| is out of mesh with'the adjacent gear 25. However, each rack 3| may be manually moved towards the gear 25 to mesh with it.

In Fig. 2 the rack 3| at the right is shown in its moved position meshing with the gear 25, while the rack 3| at the left is in its normal position, out of mesh. Thus one or more of the racks 3| may be meshed with one or more of the gears 25. When the handle 28 is turned to turn the gears 25 and the racks 3| which mesh with the gears 25 will be forced downwards and thus move the support member or members I4 to which they are connected, downwards. When the support members I4 reach their bottom positions the cams 33 and 34 will engage each other and the racks 3| will be forced laterally to disconnect from the gears 25.

Resilient means -is provided for urging each support member I4 into a raised position. 'I'his resilient means consists of springs 36 connected between opposite sides of each support member I4 and extended upwards andconnected with lugs 31 stationarily mounted on the container I0. Small tubular casings 38 are mounted over the lugs 31 and over the springs 36 to house them. These tubular casings 33 are 'open at their bottom ends.

Means is provided for holding each support member I4 in its lowered position. This means includes a bolt 40 for each support member |4 mounted in and proiecting from a housing 4I located unon the bottom of the container III. A spring 42 normally urges each bolt 40 ^utwards. Each bolt 40 has a beveled outer end 43 adapted to be engaged by the edge 44 of a cutout 45 in its cooperative support member I4 to `force the bolt inwards when the support member goes down. and then to permit the bolt to engage on top of the support member I4 to hold it down. Within each housing 4| kthere is atime switch 46 mounted' in an electric circuit, not shown on the drawing. and which may be set to go of! at a preselected time, such as one minute, two minutes, etc., as desired. .For this purpose, each time switch 46 is provided with a control handle mounted on the outside of the container In by which it may be set. Each time switch 46 is provided with an opthe springs 36.

The upper end of each rack 3| continues into a small narrow neck portion 55 which extends through vertical slots 56 formed in the upper portions-of the double wall of the container I0. The

neck portion 55 continues into a downwardly exl tending handle 51 which normally covers the outermost slot 56 when thev rack 3| is in its elevated position. The slots 56 are sufciently wide in relation to the neck portion 55 so that the rack 3| may be moved laterally. A casingl 58 for each rack 3| with a closed top and and open bottom is mounted `on the inner wall o f the container I0 and, extends over the top portions of the racks 3| The racks 3| may be moved laterally to engage their teeth with the teeth of the gears 25 by reaching down and gripping the bottom of ends 3|* of the racks 3|. Each support member I4 may be manually, individually moved toits down 'may receive its current from plug 52'. A water 'gauge 53 is mounted on the side of the container III. The bottom II'Ib of the container is inclined so that the water may be easily drained. A control cock 54 is provided for this purpose.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The container III is filled with water to the level indicated by numeral I I. The heater 52 is set into operation so that the water boils. Eggs may be dropped into the compartments I3 to rest on the support members I4. The racks 3| of these sup port members are moved laterally so that they engage the gears 25. The handle 28 is then' turned to rotate the gears 25 and so move the racks 3| downwards. This moves the particular support members I4 downwards and immerses the eggs beneath the water level I I.

When the support member or members I4 reach their bottom-positions the cams 33-ani 34 engage each other, and cause the rack or racks 3| to move laterallyfrom the gears 25. In the bottom position of the support members I4, the bolts 43 catch and hold them. After a predetermined time, as determined by the time switch 46, the bolt or bolts 43 will be momentarily retracted by the time switch or switches, freeing the support members I4. Each time switch 46 may be selectively set. When a support member I4 is freed the springs 36 will move it to its raised position. The resistance of the water will prevent the support member I4 from moving up too rapidly, which may cause damage to the eggs.

Each one of the support .members I4 may be individually manually moved downwards by merely gripping the handle 5l of the particular Asupportrnember and moving the handle downport member I4 may be moved to its bottom position in whichv it is caught and held bythe bolt 43.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modiilcations coming within the scope of the invention as deiined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric egg cooker having an open top container adapted to hold water to a level at least about midway of its top and bottom.and having its interior divided into a plurality of separate compartments with a perforated support member upon which eggs are adapted to be rested within each of said compartments, a pluof said rods limiting upward movement of said support members to said normal raised position, racks mounted on each of said support members and extending vertically along an outside wall of said container, rotatively supported gears meshing with said racks, a, transmission system connecting' said gears together for unitary movement causing said gears to be rotated to move said racks' and the support members mounted thereon downwards against the holding action of said resilient means, said support members being formed with non-circular rods, said racks having their bottom ends bent around said rods to laterally slidably attach said racks to said support members, and means mounted on the top ends of said racks, whereby said racks may -be moved laterally of said support members to be disengaged from said gears to be individually moved downwards independently of said transmission system.

2. An electric egg cooker having an open top container adapted to hold water to a. level at least about midway o! its top and bottom and having its interior divided intoa pluralityl of separate compartments with a perforated support member upon which eggs are adapted to be rested within each of said compartments, a

plurality of vertical rods 'attached to the bottom wall of said container and passed through openings in said support member for guiding them to move vertically, resilient means-urging said support members into a normal raised' position above said water line, means onthe top ends of said rods limitingupward movement of said support members to said normal raised posi-- tion, racks mounted on each of said support members and extending vertically along an outside wall of said container, rotatively supported gears meshing with said racks, a transmission system connecting said gears together for unitary movement causing said gears .to be rotated to move said racks and the support members mounted thereon downwards against the holding action of said resilient means, said support members being formed with non-circular rods, said racks having their bottom ends bent around said rods to laterally slidably attach said racks to said support members, and means mounted on the top ends of said' racks, whereby said-racks may be moved laterally o! said'support members to be disengaged from said gears to be individually moved downwards independently of said transmission system, said reds-being extended across the open side of ope the edges of said support members so4 that racks maybe easily bent therearound.

3. An electric egg cooker having an open top container adapted to hold water to a vlevel at least aboutl midway of its top and bottom and having its" interior divided into a plurality of separate compartments with a perforated support member upon which eggs are adapted to be rested within each of said compartments, a'

plurality of vertical rods attached to the bottom wall of said container and passed through opengs extended inwards from ings in said support member tor guiding them to move vertically, resilient means urging said support members into a normal raised position axbove said water line, means on the. top ends of said rods limiting upward movement of said support members to said normal raised position, racks mounted on each of said support members and extending vertically along an outside wall of said container, rotatively supported gears meshing with said racks, a transmission system con-l necting said gears together for unitary movement causing said gears t0 be rotated to move said racks and the support members mounted thereon downwards against the holding action of said resilient means, said racks having their bottom ends movably attached, to .their respective support members, and handles attached to the top ends of said racksand projected through enlarged openings formed in the walls of said container above said water line, whereby said racks may be moved relative to said support members and out of mesh with said gears so that said support members may be individually moved downwards independently of Asaid transmission system.

4. An electric egg cooker having an open top container adapted to hold waterto a level at having its interior divided into a plurality of separate compartments with a'perforated sup-V least about midway of its top and bottom and port member upon which eggs are adapted to be rested within each o! said compartments, a

plurality of vertical rods attachedito the bottom wall of said container and passsed through openings in said support member Vfor guiding them to move vertically, resilient means urgingsaid support members into a normal raised position above said water line, means on the top ends of said rods limiting upward movement of said support members to said normal raised position,

. racks mounted on each of said support members and extending vertically along an outside wall of said container, rotatively supported gears meshing with said racks, and a, transmission system connecting said gears together for unitary movein the walls of said container above said water lline, whereby -said racks may be moved laterally relative to said support members and out o! mesh with said gears so that said support members may be individually moved downwards independently of said transmission system.

JOSEPH PELENBERG. 

